Walter c



(No Model.)

W. 0. MEEKER & J. WILSON. RAILROAD SWITCH BAR. No. 422,241. PatentedFeb. 25, 1890.

WITNESSES: nwmrofis n PUERS. Phclolllhogmphur. Wnhingkm. o. c,

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER O. MEEKER AND JOSEPH IVILSON, OF ERSEY CITY, NEIV JERSEY; SAIDWVILSON ASSIGNOR TO SAID MEEKER.

RA] LROAD-S WITCH BAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of, Letters Patent NO. 422,241, datedFebruary 25, 1890.

Application filed April 24, 1889. Serial No. 308,467. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WALTER O. MEEKER and JOSEPH WILSON, of Jersey City,county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have made certain new anduseful Improvements in Railroad-Switches, not heretofore known and used;and we hereby declare the following specification to be a full and cleardescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

Our invention relates to railroad-switches, and comprises an improvedappliance or mode of securing the point-rails to the switch-bar and tothe tie-bar.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple, durable, andinexpensive attachment for securing the point-rails to the bar by whichthey are moved, commonly called the switclrbar, and to the tie-barsconnecting the point-rails to each other, which will take the place ofthe cast-metal sockets or lugs now used in the construction of switches.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch,showing the manner in which our improved attachment or lug is used inthe construction of the switch. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of Fig. 1 online XX. Fig. 3 is aperspective view showing the lug secured to theflange ofthe rail. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of our improved lug secured to the web of the rail.Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of modifications of the lug. Figs.8, 9, and 10 are views of the blanks of forged metal for the lugs shownin Figs. 5, 6, and 7, before they are formed up into the complete lugs.

In the construction of the lugs used we prefer to form them from blanksof soft steel, wrought-iron, or other similar metal of suitabledimensions by first cutting or stamping out the hole, as shown in theblanks on Figs. 8, 9, andlO, and then heating such blanks to a properheat and bending or forming them in dies of suitable shape.

In the drawings, AAare the main or stock rails, and B B are theswitclnpoints.

O is the switch-bar by which the point-rails are moved, and G C aretie-bars for con necting the point rails to each other by means of thelugs.

bars, so that a pin or bolt E may be passed vertically through both theupper and lower portions of the lug an d the intervening switchbar ortie-bar and secure them firmly together.

We have found the form of lug shown by D, Fig. 5, to give the bestresults; but a good result may be obtained and our improvement utilizedif the lug only extends onto the flange and is secured to it, as shownin Fig. 3.

The modifications of the lug shown in Figs. 6 and 7 will be lighter andtake less metal, as will appear from the blanks shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

In order to have the bars 0 and O O of the simplest, most efficient, andinexpensive form it is desirable that they should be of straight flatiron or steel, a hole being made in a suitable position for securingthem to the lugs. The switch-bar passes below the rails and shouldextend under the main rails A A a sufficient distance to always be in aposition to bear against them and prevent lifting of the points B B. Thelug D is therefore formed so as to fit snugly against the web of therails, extend outward over the flange, depending somewhat so as to lieon the bar, and then returning in a half loop or U shape toward thepoints, care being taken to have the hole or opening F for the bar tocome just at the U bend in the lug. The bar being passed through theopening F in the lug and coming to the proper position, the lug and barare secured together by the pin or bolt E.

The log D may be either bolted or riveted to the web or flange of thepoint-rail and may extend out along the bars 0 C any desired length toprovide against any tendency of the switch-points to rock. I)

In order to stiffen the lug D where it bends and bears against theflange and web of the rail an indentation is made on the under sidethereof, as shown in Fig. 2, which causes a protuberance ct 011 theopposite side. (Shown in Fig. 5.)

This construction of railroad-switch and form of switch-lug contains allthe best elements of efficiency, durability, simplicity, and economy.

What We claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. The Within-described lug or tie-piece for railroad-switches, formedin one piece from rolled steel, Wrought-iron, or other similar metal,with an aperture to receive the tie-bar,

and with the portion beyond such aperture bent back toward the point ofattachment to the rail, substantially as shown and described.

2. The lug or tie piece D, bent or formed up from a blank of rolledsteel, Wrought-iron, or 15 other similar metal, first stamped or cutinto the shape shown in Fig. 9.

WALT. O.- MEEKER.

JOSEPH WILSON. Witnesses:

ALEX. FRANCK, A. A. FRANOK.

